Rephonic
Artwork for Curious Canadian History

Curious Canadian History

David Borys
Canada
World War II
Canadian Military
Second World War
United States
Canadian Punk Rock
Group Of Seven
Holocaust
British Empire
War Of 1812
First World War
Indigenous Peoples
Sum 41
Avril Lavigne
Simple Plan
Cigarette Smoking
Fur Trade
Alcohol
Emily Carr
Canadian Identity

Historian David Borys dives deep into the fascinating world of Canadian history in this bi-weekly podcast exploring everything from the wonderful to the weird to the downright dark.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes223Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Curious Canadian History

Latest Episodes

In Prohibition-era Vancouver, getting drunk meant slipping through hidden doors into smoky backrooms, whispering passwords, and drinking bootleg whiskey poured from unmarked bottles. Police raids were always possible, yet jazz, laughter, and clinking... more

For this CCH spotlight episode we 'dive' into the history of the Welland Canal, or really, the Canals. A major infrastructure project that shaped the economic future of the Niagara Peninsula, Ontario and Canada.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva... more

Today, Lake Ontario has surged into headlines after President Donald Trump ordered it renamed "Lake America" for U.S. federal use, igniting outrage across Canada. The centuries-old name—shared by a lake that's more than half Canadian—has become the l... more

This summer reboot looks at the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941.

**Announcement** - Season 12 kicks off next week! First episode of the new season drops September 8th!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Daniel Macfarlane
Professor in the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Episode: S12E1 Lake Ontario (not Lake America)
Trevor Toome
Economist, University of Calgary
University of Calgary, Department of Economics
Episode: Summer Reboot - Trumps First Tariff War
Scott Stephen
Historian and educator based in North Vancouver, British Columbia; consultant for Trailmark Systems; researcher of British Imperial History and naval history
Trailmark Systems; British Imperial History/Naval History research
Episode: S11E21 Canada's Pacific Station - A History of Esquimalt Naval Harbour Part 1
Bruce Moncour
Canadian Armed Forces veteran, advocate, and founder of Valour in the Presence of the Enemy
Valour in the Presence of the Enemy
Episode: S11E20 The Fight for Valour: Jess LaRochelle and the Campaign for Canada's Victoria Cross
David O'Keefe
Professor of history at Marianopolis College; author and public educator on Canada's WWII history
Marianopolis College
Episode: S11E20 The Fight for Valour: Jess LaRochelle and the Campaign for Canada's Victoria Cross
Lorne Rubenstein
Acclaimed sports writer, journalist, and golf historian
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame / Author and broadcaster
Episode: S11E19 Moe Norman: A Canadian Golf Legend
Daniel Del Gobbo
Historian, Assistant Professor and Chair in Law, Gender and Sexual Justice at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law
University of Windsor
Episode: S11E18 The 'LGBT Purge' and the Limits of Forgiveness
Patrice Dutil
Professor of politics and public administration at Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Metropolitan University
Episode: S11E16 - John A. Macdonald Part 1
Edward MacDonald
Professor Emeritus in the Department of History, University of Prince Edward Island
University of Prince Edward Island
Episode: S11E15 - Prince Edward Island Joins Canada

Host

David Borys
Host and historian focused on Canadian history; central figure across episodes.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 568 ratings
  • Revisionist history

    To have 11 seasons and having only 2 maybe 3 episodes touching on French-Canadians when speaking about CANADIAN history is entirely ridiculous.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    I_review_U630
    Canada8 months ago
  • 👏

    Pop punk was the music I grew up with. This was the first episode I listened too and it was awesome. Gonna check out dudes book too

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Behindtheblow07
    Canadaa year ago
  • Well Done

    You can be sure these stories are well researched, written and told. The stories are told at a good pace in a tone we can all appreciate and understand. A big thanks for all who are involved in producing such interesting and informative stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Colette1812
    Canada2 years ago
  • Advertising has gone too far

    Used to love this podcast (been with it since it was Cool instead of Curious), but the show has become so ad-heavy it’s impossible to enjoy. Two minutes at the beginning, two minutes in the middle. At a minimum. Many of us can’t fast forward all the time—driving, exercising—and this format is intolerable.

    I realize that a free podcast needs to fund itself, but there needs to be a balance. And here it’s become ridiculous.

    Too bad, used to love it. But the ad-heavy content has cost this podcast... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Viking Paul
    Canada4 years ago
  • So Interesting!

    As someone born in Canada but moved to the States when I was five, I didn’t get to learn the history of Canada in school. It is amazing and interesting to learn now and this podcast keeps you wanting to come back for more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Forever Heel
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners note the show's ad pacing as a drawback, but many still value the content.
The host delivers well-researched, engaging stories with clear pacing and insightful narration.
Listeners appreciate broad topic coverage and rigorous scholarship.
Guests provide expert context that deepens understanding of Canadian history.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#98
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#130
Hong Kong/History
Apple Podcasts
#228
Ukraine/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S12E1 Lake Ontario (not Lake America)
Q: What is your view on the recent renaming controversy and its implications for sovereignty and cross-border relations?
The renaming is largely seen as a symbolic move reflecting broader geopolitical tensions rather than a direct functional disruption, but it raises concerns about sovereignty and border dynamics, highlighting how cultural symbols can influence diplomatic perceptions and domestic debates.
S12E1 Lake Ontario (not Lake America)
Q: How has Lake Ontario constrained or enabled nation-building in Canada and the U.S., especially in terms of transport and commerce?
The lake served as a critical conduit for goods, people, and strategic movement, with canals like Welland and Erie linking inland settlements to maritime routes, thereby accelerating western expansion, cross-border trade, and the emergence of major cities on both sides of the border.
S12E1 Lake Ontario (not Lake America)
Q: Do you have a sense of the earliest human habitations along Lake Ontario and how long people have lived there?
Archaeological and oral-history evidence suggests humans have inhabited the Lake Ontario region for roughly 11,000 years, with earlier shorelines now submerged during ice ages and ongoing settlement patterns evolving as peoples moved with the lake's resources and with shifting climates.
S11E22 Canada's Pacific Station - A History of Esquimalt Naval Harbour Part 2
Q: What was the connection between Esquimalt and Britain's Latin American interests?
The host frames the question around how Latin American instability around 1858-1859 provided a backdrop that Baines leveraged to argue for Esquimalt as the Pacific base, showing that imperial decisions were made in the context of regional turmoil and strategic calculations beyond local geography.
S11E20 The Fight for Valour: Jess LaRochelle and the Campaign for Canada's Victoria Cross
Q: So Bruce, then who is Jess Larochelle? And tell us what he did in Afghanistan that warrants such a campaign as the one you are undertaking.
Bruce explains that Jess Larochelle volunteered for an isolated observation post, faced a 40-Taliban attack, and, despite severe injuries, held the position and used improvised rockets to repel the assault, later enduring lengthy post-battle service and carrying a fallen comrade's casket, which catalyzed the campaign for higher recognition.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Curious Canadian History

What is Curious Canadian History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently covers Canadian history with a focus on deeper context, archival insights, and nuanced storytelling. Episodes span military history, politics, social movements, Indigenous topics, and regional histories, often pairing rigorous scholarship with engaging narratives. A distinctive pattern is the blend of expert guest perspectives—university professors, historians, veterans, and researchers—with a host who frames complex moments in accessible, story-driven ways. The format tends to be concise and well-researched, making it useful for listeners who want to understand how past events shape contemporary Canada, with occasional forays into memory, commemoration, and public policy.

Noteworthy strengths include high-quality sc... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Curious Canadian History?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Curious Canadian History. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Curious Canadian History and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Curious Canadian History get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Curious Canadian History, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Curious Canadian History?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Curious Canadian History, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Curious Canadian History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Curious Canadian History has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Curious Canadian History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curious Canadian History:

1. Canadian History Ehx
2. Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly
3. Quirks and Quarks
4. Ideas
5. The Sunday Magazine

How many episodes of Curious Canadian History are there?

Curious Canadian History launched 11 years ago and published 223 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Curious Canadian History?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Curious Canadian History?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Curious Canadian History from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Curious Canadian History?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Curious Canadian History. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Curious Canadian History?

Recent guests on Curious Canadian History include:

1. Daniel Macfarlane
2. Trevor Toome
3. Scott Stephen
4. Bruce Moncour
5. David O'Keefe
6. Lorne Rubenstein
7. Daniel Del Gobbo
8. Patrice Dutil

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days